KALAMOS

Island of the Ionian Sea, located Southeast (SE) of Lefkada island, between Meganisi on the West Northwest (WNW), Kastos on the South Southeast (SSE) and the coast of Akarnania on the North Northeast (NNE).

Kalamos has a longitudinal shape covering an area of 25 square kilometres. It is ranked 7th in size of the seven major islands of the Ionian Sea (so-called Eptanisos) and 59th of the country’s islands. The island’s extreme geographical points are the capes of Kefali (NW), Asprogiali (NE) and Trachila (NW). The distance from SW to NE is 12 km. The maximum altitude is 745 m. (Vouni summit) situated almost at the island’s centre.

The island is attached administratively to the District of Lefkada of the Prefecture of Lefkada. It has one community and two settlements; Kalamos on the northwest side and Episkopi at its northern shore. The island’s population (according to the 2001 census) is 465 people.

The area is mountainous, with one mountain running through its entire length. The island’s shores are rocky and mostly harbourless.
They form two relatively large coves:

A. Gerolimionas, on their NW part,
B. The Porto Leone harbour, on their NE part. Close to the SW part of the island the Formikoula skerry is located.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

The population of Kalamos according to the most recent censuses of 2001 and 1991 is as follows:

2001	1991
Men               267	Men                 212
Women          278	Women            253
Total              545	Total                465

Births (2000 – 2008)
2000 → 4	2001 → 3	2002 → 7	2003 → 3	2004 → 6
2005 → 5	2006 → 2	2007 → 5	2008 → 1

Voting lists per municipal district
Kalamos: 794 registered citizens	Episkopi: 217 registered citizens

EDUCATION

Kalamos has one Primary School from which, from 2000 until today, 25 children/pupils have graduated.

Most of the above children complete their studies at Primary Schools of other areas where their families settle so as to be possible for their older siblings to pursue their studies at High School and Senior High School Lyceum).

During the 2007-2008 school year six children attended the Primary School of Kalamos.

ECONOMY

The everyday life of the inhabitants of the island has been adapted to the harsh landscape and the sea environment as it happens since 40 years ago. Livestock farming, olive cultivation, and fisheries were essential economic activities that provided necessities for three villages – Kalamos, Episkopi and Kefali.

Today, only the first two of the above villages have survived. Kefali has been deserted and now only the derelict houses are left uphill and down to the port. Nevertheless, Episkopi is also populated by a few families in the winter.

In the wider region of these two villages there are two smaller satellite settlements – Kastro and Agrapidia. However, only the elderly engage in traditional occupations.

The young people of the island are mostly seamen crossing every day the seas of Earth and transferring the island’s name and fame worldwide.